Rowell wants end to waiting game

Rowell is an advocate of the Rob Andrew plan

Former England coach Jack Rowell has warned that rugby union must get its house in order - or face disaster.

Rowell made the statement as English First Division clubs once again prepared to discuss the controversial issue of promotion and relegation.

The Bristol managing director, who will put his views forward at an EFDR board meeting on Monday, is unhappy Rob Andrew's blueprint for the game has not been implemented.

The meeting will consider a proposal approved by the Rugby Football Union on Friday that there should be one automatic promotion and relegation place.

"We had the Rob Andrew plan, which like other rugby fans from a distance, I was hoping would be implemented," said Rowell. "But it wasn't, which wasn't good news.

Sorted out

"Now we've had this prevarication so I will have to see what the other directors think of this new proposal before making up my own mind. But it needs to be sorted out."

The RFU proposal would last for the next two seasons and then there would be one place decided by a play-off between the bottom side in the Premiership and the top team in National Division One.

We had the Rob Andrew plan, which like other rugby fans from a distance, I was hoping would be implemented

  Jack Rowell

Andrew's proposed action plan included sealing off the Zurich Premiership for five years while individual clubs pumped money into their teams and facilities without fear of relegation.

"This has become a running saga. It's pulling rugby down and these are decisions where the bullet has to be bitten," said Rowell.

"We've seen in the past week what happens when decisions aren't taken.

"Look what it has done to the players, and before that Rob Andrew resigned from the situation. These politics have to go away and let rugby union get on with it."